Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and the impact of genetic,epigenetic and environmental factors in the offspring

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD)is the most common chronic liver disease worldwide and is strongly associated with metabolic deregulation.More recently,a significant impact of parental NAFLD in the offspring was demonstrated and has been widely discussed.However,pathogenetic pathways implicated in the inheritance by the offspring and relatives are still under debate.Probably,multiple mechanisms are involved as well as in NAFLD pathogenesis itself.Among the multifactorial involved mechanisms,genetic,epigenetic and environmental backgrounds are strongly related to NAFLD development in the offspring.Thus,based on recent evidence from the available literature concerning genetic,epigenetic and environmental disease modifiers,this review aimed to discuss the relationship between parental NAFLD and its impact on the offspring.

Can gadoxetic acid–enhanced magnetic resonance imaging be used to avoid liver biopsy in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease?

BACKGROUND Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD)is a major cause of liver disease worldwide.The diagnosis of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis(NASH),the most severe form of NAFLD,is crucial and has prognostic and therapeutic implications.However,currently this diagnosis is based on liver biopsy and has several limitations.AIM To evaluate the performance of gadoxetic acid–enhanced magnetic resonance imaging(GA-MRI)in differentiating isolated steatosis from NASH in patients with NAFLD.METHODS In this prospective study,56 patients with NAFLD(18 with isolated steatosis and 38 with NASH)underwent GA-MRI.The contrast enhancement index(CEI)was calculated as the rate of increase of the liver-to-muscle signal intensity ratio from before and 20 min after intravenous GA administration.Between-group differences in mean CEI were examined using Student's t test.The area under the receiver operator characteristic curve and the diagnostic performance of gadoxetic acid–enhanced magnetic resonance imaging were evaluated.RESULTS The mean CEI for all subjects was 1.82±0.19.The mean CEI was significantly lower in patients with NASH than in those with isolated steatosis(P=0.008).Two CEI cut-off points were used:<1.66(94%specificity)to characterize NASH and>2.00(89%sensitivity)to characterize isolated steatosis.CEI values between 1.66 and 2.00 indicated liver biopsy,and the procedure could be avoided in 40%of patients with NAFLD.CONCLUSION GA-MRI is an effective noninvasive method that may be useful for the differentiation of NASH from isolated steatosis,and could help to avoid liver biopsy in patients with NAFLD.